Propeller control



May 23, 1950 J. R. MAY 2,509,104

PROPELLER CONTROL v May 23, 195Q' J. R. MAY l PROPELLER CONTROL 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NCW.r 17, 1943 NVENTOR JAMES l?. MAY

ATTORNEYS Patented May 23, 1950 UNIT-Einf serArfE-s 12A-TENT cette E;

$509,104 BROPELLER CONTROL James Russell"V May; Dayton, Ohio;l a'ssgl'lrto GeneralMotos Corporation, Detroit,-Mch. av corporationof'elawareApplicatiomNovember 17, 1943, Serial No. 510,673-

Clains. (Cl. 1\'7'0'160.21)`V This invention relates; to', regulator4mechanism for. fluid' actuated pitch .shifting mechanism of aircraftpropellers-,andhas for an object to simplify governorvalveconstruction,and the control linkage therefor.

Another object of` the invention is' to provide a governor valve.and"'c0ntrol= linkage suitable, for use in a rotatingreservolr, thatlmayvb'ezmanu.- ally adjusted orl setlrom a remote point'outside thereservoir while the reservoir is rotating.

Another object vvis. toY provide a. governory valve of the floating;type; `thatrespondsto the,domina-` tion of centrifugal'l forceover-substantially coni stant springiorceffor all conditions; and'filiwhich a portingsleeveiis'movablefor selecting the response position of'thevalve". n p v Another object of" the inventionpis tov provide a.regulator mechanism-wand enclosed -fluid operated control elementsthatcan be mounted onandrotate with a propeller'mechanisnl :and controlledfrom a remote point without :the objection of. leakage.

Yet another object of' the invention isj to pro-L videv a sealedlregulator mechanismtha't maybe constructed as" 'an integralV unitI of apropeller mechanism with outsidecontrols which necessi' tatesnobuildlupof'structure at'tl'ie time Yof assembly'offpropelle'ron engineyshaft;

FurtherV objects and'advanta'ges" of the present` inventionwill-beapparent"from` the following de'- l scription, reference beinghadftothe accompany'- ing drawings wherein apreferredfembodiinent ci"Fig.. 2--is ana enlarged view in section through' thefimproved governorvalve unit :as'sugg'e'st'ed' by the-lineand arrows-25;# of'liig. Fien?,is a transversesectional-View throughthe propellermechanismsubstantially'- asrshowri in'` Fig. 1 bythe linerandfarrows3ra-3;

I Fig-lis a diagrammatic viewtof a uid shifted propeller mechanismwhereinn thev 'control circuit embodies-the: stnucture--hereindescribed:

lil-igY 5- is -a--vfragmentary"viewillustrating details" of 1fcon-trollinkage by :which the governor valve 1s` adjusted.

With. particular reference tofthe drawings, lll

refers to any engine,-housi'ngv or gear-casing-from which extends inrotatable 'relation to be4 driven4 byqthe.engineyafpropellcrshaft122"splined'at I 4 to drivinglyengagefapropeller hub; |.6..p1oviding a plurality, ofY sockets vLafer` rotatablysecuring blades 20. YIneaoh bladerootlthere is contained a torque unit,22"'comprisingv, a` cylinder 24;` andF a double acting.piston;26' which;by itsv spiral spline connection 28 .between ,the pistcnfand cylinder,andthe, spiral, spline connectionll between the piston and' a hollovvspindle 32securedtothe hub, is adapted to effect rotaryA motionA of theblade within. its bearingsinv the socket as: thev4 DiSlO movesinwardoroutwardof ,the cylinder inlre.- sponse to pressure fluid appliedto either of, the chambers 34 or 36,'at `either endofjthe. piston,Application of fluid pressure to the chamber l34 is. accomplished byatube 33j secured. in thehllh I6 and projecting in sliding relationthroughthe piston, which communicates with arrecess 40' from which thereleadsA a transfer tube 42 ending-ln :an orifice 44 onthesurfaceof'thesoclet. VApplication of fluid pressure to thechamber 36'isthrough the, base, of thespridle 32 bymanscf a tube 4B connecting with atransfer tube 5D endingin an orifice 52. So much of the structurelsdescribed in more detail in the U; S. patent to Blanchard et al.2,307,101'.

For selectively org automatically controllingthe application of fluidpressure to either ofthe charnbers 34, 36,l there is' provided aregulator 54. that comprises an annular plate 56, a cover.. 5l, and anadapter assembly 578 Secured together vas allnitlto f-'orm av .reservoir6,0'. of annular form .mountedron a rear extension 62A vof' the hubbvvasleeve nut 64, so as to be rigid and rotate with the propellerv hubstructure. The reservoirthus comprises an. annular chamber thatischargedv to a desired degree with a suitable operatingfluid, suc-h as alight oil, and houses the ','uid actuated devices and' pressuredevelopingv devices for eliecting control to a predetermined pattern.The annularplate 56 seats against the `surface of theblade sockets.

I8 'and has combined passages 6B( and A,6"8 circum-k scribing the shaft'-andtted for communication with the transfer tubes-144 and 52respectively by branches 'loand 12j respectively. It' ls'to be un--derstood that eac'liof vtheblade sockets is fitted withthe transfertubes' 42 and i501 and that/each' of the control passages' and'l connectwithA all'of the transfer tube`s`42and' llfby the orificesIblan'dreslziectively;`

Mounted on the' surfacefof the plate Vlili so as to be contained"within" the reservoir there is a to draw uid from the reservoir Standdeliver Yit under pressure into a pressure passage 88 located in thebody of the plate and leading to the relief valve 16, and on to thegovernor valve unit 14. To c-omplete iiuid connection with the governorvalve unit 14 the plate has tubular branches y82 and 84 extending fromthe control passages 68 and 618 respectively that end in ports '88 and88 on each side of a port 98 in the pressure line 88.

The governor valve unit is mounted over the ports 86, 88 and 90 and isadapted to control the iiow of fluid under pressure from the pres-I sureport 90 to either of the control ports 85,

88 whenever the valve element is moved in either direction from theequilibrium position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Essentially, the unitcomprises a body or block 92 having a bore or pocket 94 with spaced.ports 9B, 98 and |00 designed to communicate with plate ports 85, 88and 80 respectively. One end of the bore 94 is or may be closed partlyby a head |02, though an opening |04 is provided that relieves the endof the .bore to the reservoir 68., Fixed for sliding Vand rotarymovement within the bore 94 there is a porting sleeve |08 havingperipheral grooves |08, H0 and H2 that are disposed between theperipheral ribs H4, H5, H8 and |20 to provide annular chambers betweenthe sleeve and body constantly communicating with the ports 96, 98 and|88. The porting sleeve has an axial bore |22 housing a valve element|24 and a spring |25, while cross ports in sets, such as |28, |30 and|32 connect the bore of the porting sleeve with the annular chambers|08, H0 and H2 respectively.

The valve element |24 is an elongated cylindrical weight member designedto respond to centrifugal force of regulator rotation and has two spacedribs or lands |34 and |38 so spaced as to equally overlay the ports |28and |38 when the valve is in the equilibrium position. Thus, the annularspace between the lands is always exposed to the pressure of the port|32. The arrangement of the governor valve unit is such that the plunger|24 and porting sleeve are disposed on a radius of regulator rotationunder which conditions the valve element moves radially outward as thespeed of rotation increases and variously compresses the spring |28.That condition will obtain until the spring force equals the centrifugalforce when the valve element will come to rest in what is called theequilibrium position. The equilibrium `position is determined. and infact selected, by means shifting the porting sleeve |08 along the boreof the block S2. Thus the speed level at which the governor valve unitwill control the propeller mechanism to constant speed operation ismanually selectable and is predetermined by positioning the portingsleeve |85.

Positioning of the porting sleeve along the bore of the block. isdetermined by the adapter assembly 58, and comprises an adapter plate|38 secured to the engine nose H! by screw devices |40 that also securea pilot plate |42 thereto. The adapter plate provides a notch |44.recentive of a lug |45 of a sleeve |48 forming a support for a pair ofconcentric rings |50, |52

secured thereto and extending into the reservoir.

50. The ring |50 is iournalled for oscillation about the sleeve |48through the limits defined by a lateral arm |54 extending radiallythrough a notch |55 in the'rinq |52 which is secured to the sleeve |48hv screw devices |58 as suggested in Fig. 5. Fluid. seals |80. |62. and|84 are provided between the sleeve nut 6,4 and the .pump whenever thepropeller rotates.

sleeve |48, between the sleeve |48 and the ring |50, and between thering |52 and the cover 51 respectively, so that there will be little orno loss of operating uid from the reservoir between relatively movingparts.

The adapter assembly 58 is therefore restrained against rotation withthe reservoir due to the lug and notch engagement |44, |46, yet theadapter assembly, or that part of it extending into the reservoir, iscapable of wobbling to the extent of following any eccentricity of thesleeve |88 about which it is journalled. Within the reservoir the ring|52 provides a toothed flange |68 engageable with a pinion |10 mountedon the pump 18, which operates to drive the Both of the rings |50 and|52 end inside of the reservoir with beveled toothed racks |12, |14 eachof which meshes with a beveled pinion |18, |18 having a bearing in thebore of the block 92. The gear |16 has an axial tubular extension |80,the outside of which is threaded to engage threads within a tubularextension |82 of the porting sleeve |06, while the gear |18 has an axialtubular extension |84, the inside of which is threaded to engage threadson the outside of the tubular extension |82, there being a thrust washer|86 between the gears. 'I'he extension |84 is journalled in the bore 94,while the extension is opened out at |88 to communicate with the bore ofthe porting sleeve |08. The threads of the two extensions are ofopposite pitch so that relative rotation of the gears will tend tothread the extensions into or out of the porting sleeve depending on thedirection of the relative rotation. The condition of that coupling ismore clearly shown in Fig. 4 where the threads are graphically shown bythe cross slot and pin means |98.

The structure thus embodied provides propeller mechanism consisting of ahub, blades, torque units, and regulator mechanism complete as aself-contained unit, in the reservoir of which the control apparatus isenclosed and ushed with the pressure operating medium or liquid. It isadapted for complete assembly at the factory to the inclusion of theadapter assembly ending with the sleeve |48. It is then ready forinstallation upon the propeller shaft, or it may be shipped to the eldin that state where it may be installed on the propeller shaft as areplacement for one removed. In making the installation it is onlynecessary to remove the usual shaft nut retaining the propeller on theshaft, and then pass the new propeller mech- When in operation, theregulator will rotate 5 with tlm propeller around the adapter assemblywhich effects rotation of the pump 18 to feed the fluid passages withthe pressure operating medi-- um that finds its way to the port |00 withthe excess spilling out through the relief valve unit 16 f toreturn tothe reservoir 60. Since the regulater is rotating about the adapterassembly so long as the propeller is in operation, the toothed flanges|12 and |14 effect the rotation of the gears |16 and |18, which in turn,there being no relative:rotationzbetween-the gear-acausethef portingunitary structure fabout the ainsiv ofaftheevalve; Thateffects..-elimination: of static -friction-.;between.'thefportingnsleeve lllrandi` the lvalve ele ment.' |24; v sogitha'tv thelatter fis always. freey t0 move-upon the-slightesttchangei-inbalancingiorce. The:-balancingffforcer theeresulti` of-r centrifugal force-cofrotatiorrr appliedz vto :the valve? .element t2i4 fvvhich: isf-initselfca, centrifugal.- menfiloer;` and the spring forceaccomplishedcby"theiaoutward movement: of; thez'valve elementagainstfthe spring K261i Wlien-tlioseforcesY arefbal'a'nced anequi-librinmzposition v'of the valvei isffreach'ed inJWhicli'v thelandsf` |13'4andf. F3651 willey just cover` the Ycontrol ports.v |i-28fandl 130i Should there'be' atendency for? thepropellerftofoverspeed" thevalves-element willmove Aradiallyfoutward? to operi-` the vport 1| 3|!-to the-pressureport' |32T, and there Will resulta pressure r.impulseupon thepi'ston of: the torque unit-to'- increase tlie` pitch 'ofi'th'eblades accord'`- inglyr' At the samei time the' port |28 vvillhave`beenopene'dl to drain sothat the opposite side oithe-torque unit may" beVrelieved-`through` the open;Y ingr |58'8' andv return to Ithereservoir; Similarly. on'fan underspeed condition, the valveelementmoves -radiallyjinwardlbecause o f the spring force dominating.the' centrifugal force, which opensthe portito" the pressure lineV andthe' tforquel unitiV to relief through the port 30 andreturn to thereservoirY through I M..

The `foregoingiatlrie operation offtlie governor valve.. unit in its.constantispeed control .of theV propeller for any one selected settingof 'the portingsleeve. The porting ysleeve may be moved radiallyinvvardor outward during rotation. of the propeller orselectinga newspeed level atY which the control will' be effected. For selecting adiierent speed level of control, the lever |54 is caused to be movedv tothe desired position, which `effects relative rotation between. therings |5i! and |52. Their toothed langesafl 1:2 and HW: thereby eilectvrelativev rotation, ofthe gears I'l and |18 that cause the portingsleeve m6 to move axially along the bore of the block 92. 'lhat'faxi'al`movement ofthesleeve-shiftsl the control ports radially inward oroutwardwitlof-respect' to the axis of rotation In consequence thereof, thevalve element will now coverthe-'ports-A |23y and |301 atanewequilibrium position. Assuming for thee purpose` of illustrationthat' the shift' of the porting sleeve has takenupa position radiallyin- Ward of that beforeythen it will' require a lower propellerspeed todevelop. suicient centrifugal.

force. on the element. |24, tomove yit to a-:positionforcoveringthecontrol ports.v Hence thevvalve unit will control at alower speed level.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A propeller control mechanism for an hydraulically adjustablepropeller of the character described comprising, a rotatable supporthaving a pair of radially spaced control passages and an interveningpressure supply passage, means for rotating said support, a controlvalve unit mounted on the support and having a bore extending radiallyof the axis of support rotation, a shiitable porting sleeve carried bythe bore and providing a uid source port and a pair of spaced ilow portsconnected with the source and control passages respectively, a landedvalve element shiitable. within .i the porting sleeve ion selectivelyconnectingsrthe' fsourcea portgwith' either". ot the :dow portsninfresponsa to centriingal force means i'nclndingra. sspringfaandrigid:seatfor applying. la predeterminedorce-to :saidvalve-in opposition tosaideentrl-fugalzforcesto effectV adjustment thereof;. .and f-means..yion' varying; andfpredetermining thefrelaztiorr'of .the sleeve to the*valveelement in;- cluding a ring non-rotatablewith thezfsup'port but'oscillatable'frelative thereto;control4 means flor-'enactingarcuateshiftingfof said ring, agear rotatablewithsaid :valve andlhavin'goperative engagem'ent"'vvrthlfsaidring.for rotary movement in 1='esponse:.tozfthe.shittirigsthereof; and` meansactuatediby"saidfzgear'nforfvarying the rveffective' posi'- tinnrfoisaiportingsle'eve'relativeto said regu`llatonvalveiinresponseto-f'ad-justment ot'said 'cone trolsmear-isi.-

2li A filuid'rlow control device: comprising a ro- Afiatabliy.: mountedsupporte having a plurality of ilo'urfpassages'andlanintervening supplypassage, meansfior rotating said support, a valvehousi-ngmountedforr-the support :and having 'a bore disV posed radiallyoftlieaxi'sof support rotation with sfgspacedIv` passages opening'ffrom:the bore thereof: touth'esupport passagesla porting sleeve shiftablydisposed-in the bore or the valvehousing and* having-- lineally IspacedportsV communicating with the-housing passages,` a valve elementmovable. 3f)..:within'thesfporting.sleevev and having ka pair oflspaced-lf lands adapted'A toV kcontrol uid flow' froml one'oF-thesaidports to eitherof the otherports' of "the "sleeve, 'yielding meansresisting outward. radiali. movement 4oi' "the valve" element. along theIhr porting Vsleeve 'in response to centrifugal force wherebythe valveelement responds. to variations Ulf in' the 'speed' of support rotationfor connecting.`

said'pn'e 'port wthone or another of. the. other ports/,ja pair of gearsdisposed at.y one. end ofthe valve housingand. having.v axial..extensions tl`i1.eaole ;lv one into andoneontotheporting sleeve. meansnormally rotating.v the gears. at .equal speedskdueto support. rotationthereby effecting rotation o:t.f..tl`i.e.porting..sleevefwithinL the:valve.-

housing .for the. eliminationof static ffriction; and

means.. torv eiecting. diierential: rotation ofthev gears .wherebythe-porting sleeve is moved.- along.

the. boreot. the. housing-torselect a different posi'- tion. at, which:.the-valve: element will cover the` mi portsthereof;

3 1 A luiddowwcontrcl deyicefccmprising avrov radially of the axis ofsupport rotation, said housing havin-g lateraly spaced flow and inletpassages respectively, communicating with the bore and with the supportpassages, a porting sleeve shiftably disposed in the housing bore andhaving lineally spaced flow and inlet ports communicating with thehousing passages, a floating valve element movable within the portingsleeve having a pair of spaced lands adapted to coincide with the flowports and to control ilow from the inlet port to the flow ports,yielding means arranged to balance the valve element against centrifugalforce of the valve element set up by rotation of the support whereby thevalve element responds to variations in the speed of rotation of thesupport for covering and uncovering the flow ports in the sleeve, a pairof gears having extensions extending into one end of the housing boreand interengaging with the porting sleeve, a pair of rotatable racks fordriving said gears atequal speed, means for differentially rotating saidracks, the interengagement of saidV extensions With the porting sleevebeing such that equal rotational speed of the gears effects rotation ofthe sleeve within the housing and diierential rotation of said gearseiiects lineal movementV of the porting sleeve along the bore of thehousing relative to the valve element.

4. A fluid iioW control device comprising a rotatably mounted supporthaving a plurality of ow passages and an intervening supply passage,means for effecting rotation of said support, a valve housing having atubular bore so mounted on the support that the tubular bore extendsradially of the axis of support rotation, said housing having laterallyspaced flow and inlet passages respectively, communicating with the boreand with the support passages, a porting sleeve shiftably disposed inthe housing bore and having lineally spaced flow and inlet portscommunicating with the housing passages, a floating valve elementmovable Within the porting sleeve having a pair of spaced lands adaptedto coincide with the flow ports and to control flow from the inlet portto the flow ports, yielding means arranged to balance the valve elementagainst centrifugal force of the valve element set up by rotation of thesupport whereby the valve element responds to variations in the speed ofrotation of the support for covering and uncovering the i'low ports inthe sleeve, a pair of concentric gears having hubs each threadedlyengaging said porting sleeve, and means for rotating said porting sleevewithin the valve body for eliminating static friction of valve plungermovement and including a pair of circular racks intermeshing with saidconcentric gears and means for adjusting the porting sleeve along thebore of the valve body for selecting the predetermined conditions atwhich the centrifugal force and spring force will be in balance so as tostop communication between the pressure port and the control port saidlast named means including means for rotating one of the circular racksrelative to the other circular rack.

5. In a hydraulic regulator for a rotatable device having a valveelement movable radially of the axis of rotation in response to speedchange of rotation for controlling the flow of fluid pressure from asupply port to a control port, adjustable means for selecting the radialposition at which the valve element will effect control, comprising incombination, a porting sleeve having ports cooperable with the valveelement and being movable relative thereto, a pair of pinionsconcentrically arranged and each having a part threadedly engaged by theporting sleeve, a pair of concentric ring gears fixedly supportedoutside the rotatable device and each engaged by one of theconcentrically arranged pinions, means whereby one of the ring gears isrotatable relative to the other, and means whereby rotation of thedevice causes the pinions to roll over the ring gears and eiect rotationof the porting sleeve, relative rotation of the ringI gears effectingdifieren-y tial rotation of the pinions and superimposing a radialmovement of the porting sleeve upon its rotary movement.

6. In a hydraulic regulator for a rotatable device having a valveelement movable radially of the axis of rotation in response to speedchange of rotation to assume a radial position that is an index of thespeed of rotation, a shiftable porting sleeve guiding the valve elementand providing a fluid supply port and a control port cooperable with thevalve element for controlling the flow o1' fluid from the supply port tothe control port, adjusting means for shifting the porting sleeve toselect the radial position atwhich the valve element will close thecontrol port, said adjusting means including a pair of pinions havingconcentric portions each having threaded engagement with one end of theporting sleeve, a pair of relatively rotatable ring gears each meshingwith one of said pinions, means iixedly supporting the ring gears sothat rotation of the device causes the pinions to roil over the ringgears and elect rotation of the porting sleeve, means for.

rotating one of the ring gears relative to the other so that the pinionswill be differentially rotated.

and effect radial shifting of the porting sleeve whereby a new radialposition will be selected at which the valve element will close thecontrol.

port.

JAMES RUSSELL MAY.

REFERENCES CITED rlfhe following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

y UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

